By Shane Thomas
If
life is a series of moments, then life can be defined as a series of
endings. Think of an old job, or an old relationship. Often your
overriding memory will be weighted towards how it ended.
However,
in London's Olympic Stadium on Saturday (I refuse to call it the
London Stadium on general principle) around 60,000 people witnessed a
finale that was definitive, but not defining. This only happens when
a career is so seismic that the final curtain doesn't supersede the
show that came before it.
And
when it comes to a show, nobody does it like the showstopper himself;
Usain
Bolt.
In a conclusion that was as dramatic as it was unexpected, the London
crowd were left thunderstruck as Bolt
was beaten
in a global championship final (his
2011 false start notwithstanding)
for the first time since 2007.
Michael
Atherton once said about sport; "It
helps to find a storyline."
In the aftermath of Justin Gatlin's victory, one could easily fall
into the trap of thinking this sport's equivalent of Gregor Clegane
crushing Oberyn Martell's skull. The pro-Bolt crowd erupted in a
paroxysm of boos - and the odd chant of “cheat” - towards Gatlin.
Leaving the stadium among a sea of Jamaican flags, plenty adorning
those who weren't even Jamaican, we all existed in a real world Mr.
Krabs meme, barely comprehending what had happened...
The rest of this piece can be read on Media Diversified.
